Adjust Your Pruners for Best Performance

Felco’s state-of-the-art pruning shears all have a toothed center nut. This nut allows the optimum manual adjustment of the play between the cutting blade and anvil blade, thus guaranteeing clean, accurate cuts. If this play is too loose, the branch can become ‘stuck’ between the blade and anvil blade and it will be impossible to cut it properly. On the other hand, if the play is to tight, one will have to use greater strength to cut. This leads to muscle problems and the risk that the shears could become stuck, i.e. no longer open easily.

Change the Anvil Blade

When the blade no longer crosses the anvil-blade perfectly throughout its length, it is recommended to change it. These instructions do not apply to Felco pruners that have riveted anvil blades: models 2, 4, and 5.

Step 1 Remove the spring.

Step 2 Loosen the screw in the toothed sector holding the center nut.

Step 3 Unscrew the notched nut using the key contained within the packaging of each set of pruning shears.

Step 4 Remove the center nut from the bolt and separate the handles.

Step 5 Unscrew the two screws that hold the anvil blade in place and remove.

Step 6 Separate the anvil-blade from the handle and clean its housing.

Step 7 After oiling the contact surfaces, reassemble the shears by inserting the center bolt in the lower handle then set the upper handle in place and tighten the center nut manually.

Step 8 Tighten the notched nut using the adjusting key.

Step 9 Set the alignment between the cutting blade and the anvil-blade by adjusting the tightness of the center nut. The blade should rub against the anvil-blade along 2/3 of its length.

Step 10 Lock the center nut by inserting the toothed segment on top of it and lock with the segment screw.

Change the Shock-Absorber

Intensive work wears out the shears' shock-absorber. It should be changed when it is no longer flexible. The user will then continue to protect his joints, wrist and hand.

Step 1 Remove the spring.

Step 2 Loosen the screw in the toothed sector holding the center nut.

Step 3 Unscrew the notched nut using the key contained within the packaging of each set of pruning shears.

Step 4 Remove the center nut from the bolt and separate the handles.

Step 5 Tighten the blade-handle in a vice with the shock-absorber towards the top. Remove the defective shock-absorber using a screwdriver. Warning: Do not try to remove the aluminum ring. We would recommend that you immerse your new shock absorber in hot water to facilitate putting it into place. Put the new shock-absorber in place, pinching it between two fingers then push it completely under the ring using a small screwdriver.

Step 6 After oiling the contact surfaces, reassemble the shears by inserting the center bolt in the lower handle then set the upper handle in place and tighten the center nut manually.

Step 7 Tighten the notched nut using the adjusting key.

Step 8 Set the alignment between the cutting blade and the anvil-blade by adjusting the tightness of the center nut. The blade should rub against the anvil-blade along 2/3 of its length.

Step 9 Lock the center nut by inserting the toothed segment on top of it and lock with the segment screw.

Change the Center Bolt and Bushing

This operation is necessary when the cutting head has a lot of lateral play and cutting becomes imprecise. This happens when the pruning shears are used for several seasons under strong mechanical stresses.

Maintain Your Pruning Saw

Sharpen Your Cable Cutters

Generally speaking, it is not necessary to sharpen cable cutter blades. If the user cuts a great many spring steel wires, the hardest material, it is recommended to sharpen the cable cutter blades after 500 cuts.